Cultural competence training for health care professionals

Evidence Rating

Scientifically Supported

Health Factors

Decision Makers

Cultural competence training for health care professionals focuses on skills and knowledge to value diversity, understand and respond to cultural differences, and increase awareness of providers’ and care organization’s cultural norms. Trainings can provide facts about patient cultures or include more complex interventions such as intercultural communication skills training, exploration of potential barriers to care, and institution of policies that are sensitive to the needs of patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds (Horvat L, Horey D, Romios P, Kis-Rigo J. Cultural competence education for health professionals: Review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;(5):CD009405.Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Cochrane-Horvat 2014).

When preparing cultural competence trainings, experts recommend that designers consider an organization’s strengths and weaknesses and the particular needs of its patients (Truong 2014). Experts also suggest connecting cultural competency to professional values rather than legal or organizational requirements, fostering a safe and respectful learning environment, cultivating cultural humility, and avoiding stereotypes throughout the training (Like 2011).

Citations - Implementation Examples

Like 2011 - Like RC. Educating clinicians about cultural competence and disparities in health and health care. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions. 2011;31(3):196-206.

Date Last Updated

Nov 19, 2015

Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.

Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.

Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.

Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.

Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.

Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results.